Seven Arrested as Security Seizes 3,000 Bags of Charcoal in Nwoya

What the report says

Security agencies in Nwoya District have arrested seven people and seized about 3,000 bags of charcoal during a renewed crackdown on illegal charcoal production and transport in Northern Uganda, according to Nile Post. The operation took place in Anaka Town Council, Olwiyo at Agung Trading Centre, and Kurama, and also led to the impounding of four vehicles.

The report says the move follows a joint security meeting at the 4th Infantry Division headquarters in Gulu, where officials agreed to step up enforcement of Executive Order No. 3 of 2023, which bans commercial charcoal production and trade. The order was issued amid wider concerns about forest loss in Northern and North-Eastern Uganda.

4th Infantry Division Commander Maj. Gen. Felix Busizoori said the suspects will be prosecuted and that the seized charcoal will be distributed to communities affected by environmental degradation. Nwoya Resident District Commissioner Christopher Omara said dealers have continued operating despite the ban, often moving charcoal at night and using routes linked to neighbouring districts. He called for closer coordination with nearby districts and stronger court action.

The article also quotes a senior forest officer saying authorities are increasingly targeting the source of production, not only roadside interceptions. The broader significance is that officials are trying to curb continued pressure on forests and tree species that remain economically and ecologically important in the region.